Building unit machine



Jan. 13, 1942. E F, L N 2,269,955

BUILDING UNIT MACHINE Filed Aug. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 $8 INVENTOR.

U NE F 04.5w

Jan. 13, 1942. E, L EN 2,269,955

BUILDING UNIT MACHINE.

Filed Aug. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17 1 NV E NTOR.

Patented Jan. 13, 1942 I nmpmo UNrr MACHINE Eugene F. Olsen, Adrian, Mich.,- assignor of eleven-twentieths to Hamlin F. Andrus andnine-twentieths to Louis Gelbman,. both of Yonkers, N. Y.

Application August 19, 1940, Serial No. 353,198

1': Claims. (Cl. 25-41) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a building unit machine. V

More particularly the invention proposes the construction of a building unit machine which is capable of producing concrete building units of the same quality as those produced by the best present day building unit machines, and which is of a simple construction so that it may be manufactured at a low cost. Moreover, it is contemplated to so construct the machine that it may be installed with greater ease than present day machines.

The instant building unit machine is of the vibrating or jolting type. The invention pro-' poses to support the mold in an exceptionally simple manner, and yet in such a manner that the mold may be vibrated effectively. More specifically the invention proposes to pivotally support the mold, and to provide simple and slice-- tive means for limiting the amplitude of possible oscillation or vibration of the mold. It is furthermore contemplated to provide-means for oscfllating the mold about its pivot points and normally tending tooscillate said mold through a larger amplitude than the amplitude permitted by the limiting means.

Still further the invention contemplates placing the oscillating (or vibrating) mechanism in the type which is provided with a pressure head,

and it is proposed to provide exceptionally simple means for supporting and operating the pressure head ashereinafter more fully described.

The building unit machine is also" of the type which is provided with a'feed drawer'cooperative with the mold. and it is anothernobiectof this invention to support and operate'the f ed drawer in an exceptionally simple manner. f

Still further the invention proposes the-construction of a building; unit machine as mentionedwhich is exceptionally sturdy andfldurableg; For further comprehension of the 1 invention-,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reftures of the invention are more particularly set forth. I

erence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the-various novel feasides-of the mold II.

In the accompanying drawings forming amaterial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front. elevational view of a building unit machine constructed in accordance with this invention.

- Fig. 2 is a sideelevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 looking from the left hand side. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to a portion of 2 but illustrating a building unit machine constructed in accordance a pair of front vertical members Illa and Nb,

and a pair ofinclined-rear members ll, extending downwards and rearwards from the top ends of-the front vertical members. The-front and rear members are -mounted upon horizontal members I! which are joined together as a unit by several transverse members l3.

, A-pair of vertical bars M are mounted upon thefron't vertical members I00 and |0b. At the top these vertical bars 14 are supported by angle members I 5which are mounted upon the top portions of the front vertical members 10a. and Illb. At the bottom the vertical bars I4 are supported on brackets l6 which are mounted upon the front ends of the horizontal members l2. A mold ll of the usual type having open top and bottom ends andadapted to be filled through one of these ends and to be stripped from the other of the ends is disposed between said bars I. More particularlyv the mold I1 is provided with a plurality of vertical cores l'la which are supported at their bottom ends on support elements llb mounted across the side walls of the mold. This type of mold must be filled from the top and the finished block must be stripped upwards from the bottom so that the block comes out from the top. .The mold 11 is supported by several bars l8 upon a cradle lll.

:This cradle is pivotally supported and in .tum

pivotally su ports the mold aswill be more particularly described hereinafter.

The cradle 20 includes a pair of side walls 2| extending upwards along-and spaced from the The side walls II are joined together as a rigid unit by front and rear bars 20a and 20b mounted across the front and rear ends of the side walls 2|. These bars are set into openings extended inwards from the bottom edges'of the side walls and are so located that the bottom faces of the bars 260 and 26b extend slightly from the bottom faces of the side walls 2|, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

A frame 24' is provided for pivotally supporting the cradle 26'. This frame 24' includes a pair of side wall members 26 which also extend upwards along the spaced from the sides of the mold H. The top ends of the side wall members 25 are bifurcated so as to have finger portions 25a and 25b. The side walls 2| extend in between these bifurcated ends. A pintle pin 26 is mounted through the bifurcated ends of each side wall 26 and the side walls 2| for pivotally supporting the cradle 20. The pins 26 are located at points substantially mid-way between the top and bottom ends of the mold H. The side walls 26 are tied together as a unit by front and rear bars 24a and 241). These front and rear bars are located directly below the front and rear bars 200 and 26b of the cradle 26'. The leg portions of the frame 24' are formed with openings 21 merely for reducing the weight of these parts. The side walls 26 are furthermore front and rear bars 26a and 2617. These anvil members 26 are held at suitable. elevated positions by shims 66. Fastening elements 3| engage through the anvil members 26 and the shims 66 and engage the bars 24a and 24b for holding the .tied together as a unit by bottom horizontal I anvil members in proper positions. It is known from experimentation that the proper tolerance forthe pivotally mounted cradle 26 with the mold I1 is .025".

The means of oscillating the mold I! about its axis, the pintle pins 26, and tending to oscillate said mold through a larger amplitude than the amplitude permitted by said limiting means includes arm portions 2|a extending rearwards from the side walls 2| substantially radially of the pintle pins 26. A vibrator shaft 66 is disposed parallel to the axis of the pintle pins 26 and is rotatively supported in the arm portions 2|a. The vibrator shaft 63 is located a relatively large radial distance from the pintle pins 26, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The purpose of so locating the vibrator shaft is that then the moment arm with relation to the pintle pins 26 is large. The usual vibrator weights 64 are mounted on the shaft 66. These weights 64 are merely unbalanced weights. The shaft 66 is provided with a pulley 65 which is engaged by a belt 36 engaging over the pulley 61 of an electric motor 66.

The electric motor 66 is mounted upon a frame 36 which includes a pair of parallel side arms 66a and 66b. The ends of these side arms extend across the faces of the pair of inclined rear members Bolts 46 engage through the side arms 36a and 66b and pass through slots 4| formed in the rear members l| so that the frame 36' may be adjusted upwards and downadjustment permits proper tensioning of the belt y 66. However, the belt 66 is of such a length that the center of the pulley 61 of the motor 36 is above a plane passed through the axes of the pintle pins 26 and the shaft 66, see Fig. 2. Thus the belt 66 has an upward pull upon the arm portions 2 In of the cradle 26. This upward pull is so calculated, and the parts are so designed that the cradle 26' is balanced.

It should be noted that the arm portions 2|a make the rear of the cradle 26 heavier than the front. The location of the electric motor producing the upward pull overcomes this unbalanced condition of the cradle 26. Itis important that the cradle 26 be balanced so that the cradle may readily assume a true horizontal position during the stripping of the block from the mold, so that the sides of the block will be rue.

A pressure head 46 is disposed above the mold I! and is provided with side bushings 46 slidably mounted on the said vertical bars H. The pressure head 46 has atop portion 46a which extends across the entire width of the machine, and it is this top portion upon which the bushings 46 are mounted, The pressure head 46 also has a bottom portion 45b which is adapted to engage slightly into the top of the mold l1 and rest upon the concrete material packed into the mold. A latch is provided for holding the pressure head in its raised position. This latch includes a keeper element 41 mounted upon the rear side of the top portion 45a of the pressure head and normally engaged by a bolt 46.

The bolt 46 is in the form of a hook which is pivotally supported at its top end by a pintle 46 mounted on lugs 66 which in turn are mounted on a front plate 6| mounted between the front vertical members lfla and I611. The bolt 46 is offset slightly rearwards so that it tends to move forwards due to gravity and so maintains its engagement with the keeper. The bottom edge of the bolt 46 is inclined, see Fig. 3, so that the keeper 4'! may ride along this inclined portion and force the bolt rearwards when the pressure head is moved up to its raised position. This causes the bolt to swing forward after the keeper 4! has passed. so as to catch the'keeper and hold the pressure head raised.

The front end of an L-shaped arm 62 is pivotally connected by a pintle 66 intermediate of the top and bottom ends of the bolt 46. This L-shaped arm 62 extends upwards through an opening 64 formed in a top member 65 which is mounted across the vertical members I60. and "lb of the main frame III. The L-shaped arm 62 is supported at its top end on a rod 66. This rod is pivotally supported in brackets 51 and 66 which are mounted on the top of the member 56. Another arm 56 is mounted on the rod 66 and extends downwards through an opening 66 formed in the member 55. At the bottom end the arm 66 is provided with a finger 6| arranged to pivot in one direction only.

The finger 6| is supported at it stop end by a pintle 62 mounted on the bottom of the arm 56. A block 66 is mounted on the arm behind the finger. Thus the finger 6| may pivot forward only. A block 64 is mounted on the feed drawer 66 of themachine and is cooperative with .bottom of the hopper ll.

64 will idle past the finger 6| but when the feed drawer moves to its rear position, the block 64 will strike the finger 6|; pivoting the arm- 86 which turns the rod 56 moving the L-shaped arm top position as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

A pair of rollers 89 are mounted upon the-ends of the stripper bar 86 and are engaged by earns 52 which in turn moves the bolt 48 to release the 96 which are mounted on ashaft 9|. This shaft pressure head 45.

The feed drawer 65 is slidably supported by A rollers 66 mounted upon its sides and riding on rails 61 which are mounted on the main frame l6. These rails 6! are secured across the front vertical members No, I61; and the inclined rear members ll of the main frame l6. The feed drawer is also provided with rollers 68 engaging the bottoms of the rails 61 so as to prevent the feed drawer from moving upwards. The feed drawer 85 is of the usual construction. It has a front portion with an opening 69 extending completely through from the top to the bottom. It has a rear cutofl plate 16. Normally the opening 69 is placed beneath a hopper II which is adapted to be connected with a supply line for the concrete material. When the feed drawer 65 moves forwards the cutoff plate 16 closes the A cutofl' plate 65a is supported on a frame 65b and extended across the bottom of the feed drawer 65 normally closing the bottom of theopening 69. The frame 65b is supported with angle member 65c mounted on the main frame It.

The means for operating the feed drawer 65 includes a pair of side links 12 which are pivotally mounted at their front ends on blocks 13 mounted upon the top of the feed drawer 65 at its front portion. These links 12 extend rearwards and pivotally connect with arms 14. These arms 14 are radially mounted on a shaft 75 which is rotatively supported in bearings 16 mounted upon the rear faces of the inclined rear members H of the frame |6'.' A handle 11 is attached to one end of the shaft I5 by which the shaft may be turned to cause the radial arms 14 to move the links 12 forwards and so move the feed drawer 85 forwards. The handle l1 may be moved rearwards to correspondingly move the feed drawer.

A stripper bar 86 adapted to support the usual 9| is extended across the machine and is rotatively supported in the brackets. Eachcam '86 is provided with a small tall 92 which normally rests on one of the cross'members it of the main frame l6 to hold the cams in their lowered positions. A handle 94 is mounted upon one end of the shaft 8| by which the shaft may be turned and thus the cams 96 may be operated.v The cams 96 are so arranged that they are adapted to lift the stripper bar 86 from the bottom positionshown on the drawings, to a raised position in which the stripper rods not shown on the drawings, strip the block from the mold.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The feed drawer 85 may be moved from its rear position beneath the hopper II to its front position over the mold II by pulling the handle 11 forwards and downwards. In this way a charge of concrete maybe supplied to the mold I'I. Preferable during this filling operation of the mold H, the motor 38 is running driving the vibrator shaft 83. This 011 balanced shaft 88 oscillates the cradle 26'. This off balance shaft 83 would oscillate the cradle 26' through a relatively large amplitude but it is stopped by the front and rear members 2611 and 26b, respectively, of the cradle 26' striking the anvil members 29. Thus during each stroke of the oscillation, the oscillation will be abruptly interrupted producing a vibration or jolt which packs the mold. The amplitude of the oscillation may be controlled by adjusting the anvil members 29. This may be done by removing some of the shims 96, or adding shims, as may be necessary.

When the handle 11 is moved upwards and rearwards, back to its original position, the feed drawer 65 will be correspondingly moved back to its original position, and as it reaches this position, the block 84 will strike the finger 8| pivotas ing the arm 59 rearwards and causing the operastripper rods, not shown on the drawings since they are notoriously old and generally known to those skilled in the art, is disposed beneaththe mold ll and has its ends engaged through vertical slots 8| formed in the bottom portions of the side walls 25 of the frame 24'. Bushings 82 are mounted upon the ends of the stripper bar 86. T hese bushings 82 are slidablymounted on the vertical bars l4. These bushings 82 have offset top portions 82a into which the bottom ends of vertical rods 84 are threadedly engaged. Locknuts 85' are mounted on these rods 84 and engage the top portions of the offset portions 82a for locking the rods 84 fixedly on the brackets 82. The rods 84- extend upwards parallel to the vertical bars l4. The rods 84 extend through guiding vertical openings 86 formed in the top bushing 46.

Collars 81 are fixedly-mounted on the rods 84 arrangement is such that when the pressure head is released and goes down to, its bottom position,

. the ends thereof will strike the collars 81 which stop the downward motion of the pressure head. The exact bottom position of the pressure head may be controlled by vertical adjustment of the rods 84 on the bushings 82. The collars 81 are and act as stops for the pressure head 45. The

tion of the trip mechanism, which moves the bolt 48 rearwards, releasing the pressure head 45. The pressure head falls down on top of the material in the mold, and the vibration caused by the unbalanced shaft 33 continues for a short period. The building unit is now finished and ready to be stripped out of the mold.

The vibrator is stopped in the usual way, by mechanism not shown on the drawings. The handle 94 is now pulled forwards turning the shaft 9| which moves the cams 96 causing the stripper bar 86 to be moved upwards to its top position. This .causes the stripper rods, not illustrated on the drawings, to engage against the pallet which was dropped into the moldprior to its being filled with the concrete material, to move upwards and strip the block from the mold.

An important feature of the buildingunit ma. chine resides in the location of the pintle pins 28. It should be recalled that these pintle pins were described as being located specifically at points intermediate of the height of the mold II. The location of these pivoted points are very important since with the specific location a superior block can be produced, or at least a block can be producedwhich does not have certain inherent defects. With the pivot pintles 28 located at the points mentioned, the tendency of the molded block cracking in the mold will be also utilized to raise the pressure head 45 to its eliminated, or greatly reduced. With the pintle pins 28 located as mentioned, the aggregate in the mold will be oscillated back and forth across the top or the mold above the pintle pins 25, back and forth across the bottom the mold below the pintle pins 2., simultaneously in opposite directions and vertically upwards and downwards along the sides of the mold to the sides 0! the pintle pins 26. With this action the block will be packed, and may be stripped from the mold without any cracks being visible in it. With the particular location of the pintle pins, 26 the whipping or vibrations oi the cores Ila or the mold II will be reduced to a minimum it not entirely eliminated. The pintle pins 28 are located substantially at the midway points of the height of the core Ila and therefore the moment or pivoting of the cores Ila will be at a mini-' mum. The tendency of the cores whipping is thus reduced or eliminated.

It is pointed out that if the pintle were located beneath the mold l'l, an entirely different state of affairs would exist. In the first place, the cores Ila will have a tendency to whip or vibrate because their moment arms have now been materially increased. Moreover,

there will be a diiferent packing action of the aggregate in the mold. The aggregate above and below the pintle pins 26 will move forwards and rearwards, simultaneously in the same direction, and not in opposite directions as previously described. The up and down motion of the aggregate at the sides will also be somewhat difierent. In general, the location of the pintle pins 26 beneath the mold is objectionable since then there is an exceptionally great tendency for reasons explained and other reasons, for the blocks when stripped from the molds to have cracks.

Another important feature of the construction of the machine resides in the particular location of the vibrator shaft 33 with relation to the mold II. It should be noted that it is ofiset from one side of the mold, and not located beneath the mold. If located beneath the mold its moment arm will be ma erially reduced. When located as shown in Fig. 2, the moment arm of the situated so that vibrator is more advantageously the vibrations are more eiIective.

Another important feature of the machine resides in the balancing of the pivotally mounted mold. One way of accomplishing this balancing is to locate the axis of the motor pulley 31 above the plane extended through the centers of the plntle pins 25 and the shaft 33, When the mold I1 is well balanced, there will be a tendency for the mold to assume a truly horizontal position during the stripping operation, If the mold l1 stops in a position in which it is tilted in one direction by the other, the sides of the block will not be true since the stripper mechanism strips truly vertically. When the mold and the cradle 20' is substantially balanced, the mold I! will automatically assume a truly horizontal position as soon as the stripper goes into operation.

Other important features of the construction of the machine have been presented in the objects and in the body of this specification.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a modified form of the invention has been disclosed distinguishing from the prior form in the provision of auxiliary means pins 26 for properly balancing the cradle 20 and the turn each arm portion ila to a position in which the cradle 20' is truly horizontal. This means includes a pair 01! springs OI connected with the top and bottom or each arm portion 2 la and connected with swivel joints I! which are supported by screws ll adjustably mounted in brackets 88 mounted upon the vertical bars Ila and "D of the main frame II. The arrangement is such that the screws ll may be turned to properly tension the springs 86 so as to balance the cradle 20' and the mold ll. These springs 86 maybetension springs, or compression springs depending upon design. In other respects this form or the invention is identical to the prior form and identical parts may be recognized by identical reference numerals.

While I have illustrated and described the preierred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifiestions coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a building unit machine, a mold, means for pivotally supporting said mold about an axis located centrally, horizontally and vertically of said mold, means for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said mold to a small angle, and means for oscillating said mold about said axis and tending to oscillate said mold through a larger amplitude than the amplitude permitted by said limiting means and including a rotative shaft with an off-balanced weight and extending parallel to said axis and located to one side of said mold.

2. In a building unit machine, a mold, means for pivotally supporting said mold about an axis, means for limiting the amplitude of pivoting 01 said mold toa small angle, and means for oscillating said mold about said axis and tending to oscillate said mold through a larger amplitude than the amplitude permitted by said limiting means and including a rotative shaft with an off-balanced weight and extending parallel to said axis and located to one side of said mold, said mold being open at the top and bottom ends and adapted to be filled through one of these ends and stripped out through one of these ends,

located centrally, horizontally and vertically of said mold, means for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said mold to a small angle, and means for oscillating said mold about said axis and tending to oscillate said mold through a larger amplitude than the amplitude permitted by said limiting means and including a rotative shaft with an elf-balanced weight and extending parallel to said axis and located to one side of said mold, said limiting means including anvils, and said anvils being held in adjusted positions with shims.

4. In a building unit machine, a mold, means for pivotally supporting said moldabout an axis, means for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said mold, and means for oscillating said mold about said axis and tending to oscillate said mold through a larger amplitude than the amplitude I to vibrate.

5. In a building, unit machine, a mold, means for pivotally supporting said mold about an axis, means for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said mold, and means for oscillating said mold about said axis and tending to oscillate said mold through a larger amplitude than the amplitude permitted by said limiting means, comprising a vibrator laterally mounted on one side of said mold.

6. In a building unit machine, a mold, means for pivotally supporting said mold about an axis, means for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said mold to a small angle, and means for oscillating said mold about said axis and tending to oscillate said mold through a larger amplitude than the amplitude permitted by said limiting means and including a rotative shaft with an offbalanced weight and extending parallel to said axis and located to one side of said mold, said axis being at a point substantially midway bepivotally supporting said mold about an axis,

means for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said mold, andmeans for oscillating saidmold ber comprising side walls extending upwards along the sides of said mold, and bars connecting said side walls together as a unit, said frame member comprising sidewalls extending upwards along the sides of said .mold, and bars connecting said side walls together. g

12. In a building unit machine a mold, a cradle member supporting saidmold, a frame member pivotally supporting said cradle member at a point intermediate of the height of said-mold, anvils mounted on certain of said members for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said cradle member and mold members, and means for oscillating said cradle member, said cradle member comprising side walls extending upwards along the sides of said mold, and bars connecting said side walls together as a unit, said frame member comprising side walls extending upwards along the sides of said mold, and bars connecting said side walls together, the side walls of said cradle member and frame member being pivotally connected together with pintlepins located at points substantially intermediate the top and bottom ends of said mold.-

13. In a building unit machine a mold, a cradle member supporting said mold, a frame member pivotally supporting said cradle member at a point intermediate of the height of said mold,

- anvils mounted on certain of said members for about said axis and tending to oscillate said.

' for pivotally supporting said mold about'an axis,

means for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said mold, means for oscillating said mold about said axis and tending to oscillate said mold through a larger amplitude than the amplitude permitted by said limiting means, and means for balancing said mold to tend to make it come to rest in a truly horizontal position.

9. In a building unit machine, a mold, a cra-.

dle member supporting said mold, a frame member pivotallysupporting said cradle member at a point intermediate of the height of said mold, anvils mounted on certain of said members for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said cradle member and'mold member, and means for oscillating said cradle member.

limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said cradle comprising sidewalls extending upwards along the sides of said mold,- and bars connecting said 10. In a building unit machine a mold, a cradle member supporting said mold, a frame member pivotally supporting said cradle member at a point intermediate of the height of said mold, anvils mounted on certain of said members for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said cradle, 'member and mold member, and means for os-- cillating said cradle member, said cradle mem-' ber comprising side walls extending upwards limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said cradle member and mold members, and means for use cillating said cradle member, said cradle memside walls together as a unit, said frame member comprising side walls extending upwards along the sides of said mold, and bars connecting said side walls together, said anvils being mounted upon one set of -said bars and being adapted to arrest the motion of the other set of said bars.

14. In a building unit machine a mold, a cradle member supporting said mold, a frame member pivotally supporting said cradle member at a point intermediate of the height of said mold,

anvils mounted on certain of said members for limitmg the amplitude of pivoting of said cradle member and mold members, and means for oscillating said cradle member, said cradle member comprising side walls extending upwards along the sides of said mold, and bars connecting said side walls together as a unit, said frame member comprising side walls extending upwards along the sides of said mold, and bars connecting said side walls together, said anvils being mounted upon one set of said bars and being adapted to arrest the motion-of the other set of said bars, said anvils being adjustably supported with removable shims, 'wherebythe amplitude of pivoting of said am may be controlled.

15. In a building unit machine, a mold, a cradle member supporting said mold, a frame member pivotally supporting said cradle member at member and mold member, and means for oscfllating said cradle member, comprising arm portions radially p ojecting from one of. the sides of said cradle member, and a vibrator mounted uponsaid arms.

16. In a building unit machine, a mold, a cradle member supporting said mold, a frame member pivotally supporting said cradle member at.

a point intermediate or the height of said mol anvils mounted on certain of said members for limiting the amplitude of pivoting of said cradle member and mold member, and means for osciliating said cradle member, comprising arm porirom one of the sides tions radially projecting of said cradle member, and a vibrator mounted upon said arms, and comprising a shaft rotatively mounted between the arms and parallel to the axis of pivoting of said frame member, and provided with oi! balanced weights, a pulley on said shaft, a belt engaging said pulley, and a motor adiustably mounted on said building unit me.-

chine and having a pulley engaging said belt and positioned to cause an upward pul lvon the shaft ent means.

side oi said cradle member for balancing the EUGENE r. orsmt. 

